Some of you might be familiar with Suzy Paradise who appeared in Getting To Mr. Right. Two years have passed and Suzy has given up online dating. Here’s a scene between Suzy and Lyse, her friend and mentor:

“I haven’t been online for three weeks,” I told her as I poked my finger in one of the donuts to test to see if it was cool enough to glaze.

“You sound like an alcoholic who hasn’t had a drink in three weeks,” Lyse said,

“A perfect analogy,” I said. “At first you get a high from all these men hitting on your profile. All this interest. But after a while, it gets boring and disappointing. What’s your secret with Teddy?” Lyse had been married for over forty years.

In Café Paradise Suzy is pursuing a lifelong dream of hers. I like the idea that on the cusp of mid-life she goes after her dream. As I went along writing the novella I was inspired by a hanging in my office:

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us. E.M. Forster

Suzy is confronted with– as anyone with a dream is –choosing between letting go of her dream or hanging unto it.

Hello Dear Blogging Friends,

It’s nice to be back. I hope that you have all been having a wonderful June and July and that this post finds you well and happy.

Just in case you’ve been DYING TO KNOW here’s what I’ve been up to during my blogging holiday.

I’ve been preparing guest posts for my crime writers’ series How I Got Published. Kristina Stanley will be featured this Friday and later in the fall Judy Penz Sheluk and Carrie Rubin will talk about their publishing process. Keep a look out for these three fabulous (and need I add, hard working) writers of crime fiction.

Most of my time has been spent editing Café Paradise, the second in a four novella series following Getting To Mr. Right. In Café Paradise the focus is on Suzy Paradise and her struggles to fulfill a life time dream.The hardest battles are the ones we wage inside.

Writing the second edition was a lot like renovating a house. Walls (chapters) were torn down, and new extensions built. Included in this revised version are the lessons which Missi learned from each dating experience. Surviving disappointments in her love life made her stronger, and the bad dates, the many encounters with Mr. Wrong, gave her more confidence and a better appreciation of who she is and how discerning she is becoming through her dating adventures.

Even if you’ve read the first edition do pick it up and if you’re so inclined, do write a review on Amazon, Goodreads or any other social media.

I will be extremely grateful (Unless of course you trash it! 🙂 )

The book’s available on Kindle but with the free Kindle app you can download it on any reader.

I am getting a bit shy about tooting my own horn.

Still, I wouldn’t want to have you miss out on a fellow blogger’s interesting site and his Seamus McCree mystery series. And I do so appreciate all the opportunities which have come my way. So, for a little bit more about me and a whole lot about James M. Jackson click HERE and HERE.

For those who are not yet familiar with Sally’s blog I encourage you to go there. You will find a wealth of information and posts which reflect Sally’s generous spirit.
Thank you so very much Sally for including me as a guest on your Sunday Show.

I’m looking forward to reading Patricia Sands Book of The Year Award Finalist novel. Bravo, Patricia.
And, of course, thank you, Anneli, for this wonderful series on opening lines. 🙂 I look forward to reading many more.

Assuming the book is in a genre that might interest you, do you want to continue reading after the first lines? The authors hope so. What do you think? Are you interested enough to turn the page? These books probably target women more than men, but we appreciate all opinions.

1. Getting to Mr. Rightby Carol Balawyder

Missi Morgan hoped this weekend would bring the magic back into her marriage with Max. She pictured the resort where they were going with its indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi and imagined how relaxed they would both feel, their daily preoccupations forgotten as they focused on the pleasure of being together. She couldn’t even remember their last romantic getaway.